Hog-catching device.



UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR H. BETZ AND GEORGE E. HOLLIDAY, OF ROCK RAPIDS, IOWA.

HOG-CATCHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1906.

Application filed March 17, 1906. Serial No. 306,656.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, OSCAR H. BETZ and GEORGE E. HoLLiDAY, citizens of the United States, residing at Rock Rapids, in the county of Lyon and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hog- Catching Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved device for catching hogs in order to ring them.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character by means of which a man can catch and hold a hog with one hand, without the necessity of handling the hog, and ring it with the other hand. This method of procedure has obvious advantages over the old process of ringing the hog, whereby it was caught and held by one man while another man placed the ring in position.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following-description and accomp anying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the hog-catcher. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same, and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the rod or handle of the hog-catching device, and this handle is provided at one end with a nose-piece 2, which is preferably formed with a depression, so as to fit upon the nose of the hog. In the present construction the nose-piece is formed of wire and has an approximately triangular formation, the base of the triangle being bent upwardly, as seen at 3. A loop 4 is provided which cooperates with the nose-piece 2 and forms a clamp which fits upon the nose of the hog and holds it securely in position. The loop 4 is shown as approximately U-shaped, the lower portion thereof being adapted to fit around the throat of the hog, while the arms are loosely connected to a cross -piece 5, which is adjustably mounted upon the handle or rod 1. By moving the cross iece 5 back and forth upon the handle it will e apparent that the device can be adjusted so as to be used in connection with various sizes of hogs. In order to lock the cross-piece in the desired position, the rod 1 is provided with a rack 6, and a catch 7, which engages with the rack 6, is mounted upon the cross-piece 5. One end of the catch? is normally held in engagement with the rack 6 by means of a spring member 8, while the opposite end projects outwardly, so as to be readily engaged by the finger when it is desired to adjust the cross-bar. The loop 4 is designed to normally lie at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the handle 1 and is held in this position by means of spring-arms 9. One of these arms 9 is preferably located upon each side of the handle 1, and the arms have one end rigidly connected to the cross-piece 5, while their opposite ends are formed with eyes by means of which they are loosely connected to the arms of the loop 4. At an intermediate point the spring-arms 9 may be coiled, as seen at 10, and while they permit a swinging movement of the loop 4 the latter member is normally held at the desired angle.

When it is desired to catch a hog, the animal is allowed to thrust its nose through the loop 4 and under the nose-piece 2. Following its natural instinct, the hog attempts to Withdraw its nose and in so doing pulls the nose-piece 2 back and causes it to cooperate with the loop 4 in such a manner that the nose of the hog is securely clamped between the two members. In this manner the hog can be readily caught and held with one hand, while the ring is inserted with the other. While the device has been described as being employed in connection with hogs, it must be understood that it can be used with equal facility upon other animals and for other purposes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a handle, a nose-piece at one end of the handle, a cross-piece secured to the handle, and a loop pivotally connected to the cross-piece and having a swinging movement, the said loop cooperating with the nose-piece to form a clamp.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a handle, a nose-piece at one end of the handle, a cross-piece adjustably mounted upon the handle, and a loop pivotally connected to the cross-piece and having a swinging movement, the said loop cooperating with the nose-piece to form a clamp.

3. In a device of the character described,

IIO

the combination of a handle, a nose-piece at one end of the handle, a cross-piece adjustably mounted upon the handle, a loop pivotally connected to the cross-piece and having a swinging movement, the said loop cooperating with the nose-piece to form a clamp, and means for holding the loop normally at an angle to the handle.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a handle, a nose-piece at one end of the handle, a cross-piece adjustably mounted upon the handle, a loop pivotally connected to the cross-piece and having a swinging movement, the said loop cooperating With the nose-piece to form a clamp, and a spring-arm loosely connected to the loop and normally holding the same at an angle to the handle.

5. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a handle, a nose-piece at one end of the handle, a cross-bar slidably mounted upon the handle, a loop pivotally connected to the cross-bar and cooperating With the nose-piece to form a clamp, a springarm connecting the cross-bar and the loo and holding the latter normally at an ang e to the handle, a rack on the handle, and a catch upon the cross-bar engaging With the rack by means of Which the cross-bar can be locked in a fixed position.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

OSCAR H. BETZ. [L. s.]

GEORGE E. HOLLIDAY. [L. s.] Witnesses:

S. D. RINIKER,

T. K. CUsHMAN. 

